Stathmingo is a charming small village located along the A91, between Milnathort and Auchtermuchty. The Old Cemetery and Parish Church, which date back to the 18th century, are notable features of the area. The cemetery is home to several distinguished memorials and offers beautiful views of the Lomond Hills. The remains of eight-year-old John Waddell Bruce rest in the cemetery. He succumbed to influenza-related heart disease on December 20th 1918, at Kilnheugh, Auchtermuchty. His grave is marked by an attractive familial headstone.
John Waddell Bruce was born on January 21st, 1910, at Maple Cottage, Auchtermuchty, to Robert, a grocer and wine merchant, and Jessie (nee Waddell). He was the couple’s eldest son. By the time the Census was taken the following year, the family had relocated to Kilnheugh. In John’s short lifetime, the Bruce family would grow with the arrival of Jessie (Jr.), Robert (Jr.), and Mary.
Given his young age, I could find little information about John’s life. The St. Andrews Citizen published his obituary on December 28th. He was interred in Strathmingo with his paternal grandparents and aunt.
By 1921, the family had grown further with the arrival of Joan.
Robert outlived his eldest son by just over twenty years. He died on January 3, 1939, at the age of sixty-four. He was interred alongside his parents, eldest son, and two sisters. Jessie had passed away seven years earlier in Ayr.
Source: Ancestry, British Newspaper Archive, Scotland’s People
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